NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — An American Legion in Norfolk was a victim of vandalism Saturday, as workers came in and found the front glass shattered. Police are now looking for the suspect.
Officials with the American Legion said they have at least six surveillance cameras around the building, noting they could see the suspect coming up Tidewater Drive and go around the back of the building, where they tried opening a door before they came around front looking for something to break the glass.
“He tried to pick up our butt kit, which was filled with sand, so it’s pretty heavy, so he let that go,” said Byron Pianalto, first vice commander with American Legion Tidewater Post 327. “Another item he tried picking up was plastic, [and] it wasn’t heavy enough, so he picked up the bricks right next to it.”
Surveillance video shows him heaving the bricks at the glass. He tried twice and, unsuccessful, runs off. But even if he had gotten through, the next door he would have had to get through was locked and would have set off an alarm.
And Pianalto believes they weren’t the only target. The American Legion subscribes to a crime mapping app. After checking it Saturday morning, “it showed seven vandalisms in a six-block area,” he said. “And [I] don’t know if they’re related, but they very well could be.”
A while ago, they did have issues with the homeless community damaging their gazebo area, but they never saw vandalism like this. It’s a hard blow considering all they do for the community. Just Friday, they gave Old Dominion University $45,000 in scholarship money for veterans.
“We’re here to help the community and the veterans and everything,” Pianalto said. “And to have somebody come by and just vandalize it, it’s very disappointing.”
Pianalto said it’s likely something insurance can pay for. 10 On Your Side has reached out to Norfolk Police about suspect information and if the other vandalisms nearby could be related.
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